Method and apparatus for centrally managed allocation of bandwidth in a wireless network

Abstract

A method for allocating bandwidth in a wireless network includes communicating wirelessly with at least one endpoint using a first frequency bandwidth. The method may also include receiving a measurement of a signal quality from the at least one endpoint and communicating an indication of the signal quality to a server. The method may further include receiving from the server a second frequency bandwidth based on the signal quality and a cost per unit of frequency bandwidth. The second frequency bandwidth may indicate an amount of frequency bandwidth to use in communicating wirelessly with the at least one endpoint. The method may additionally include communicating wirelessly with the at least one endpoint using the second frequency bandwidth.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method, comprising:
 communicating wirelessly with at least one endpoint via a first frequency bandwidth; 
 receiving a measurement of a signal quality from the at least one endpoint; 
 communicating an indication of the signal quality to a server of a plurality of nodes; 
 receiving from the server a second frequency bandwidth based on the signal quality, one or more network tuning constants, and a cost per unit of frequency bandwidth, the second frequency bandwidth indicating an amount of frequency bandwidth to use in communicating wirelessly with the at least one endpoint; and
 communicating wirelessly with the at least one endpoint via the second frequency bandwidth, 
 wherein communicating an indication of the signal quality to a server comprises communicating the indication of the signal quality to a subnet server coupled to a central server, the central server operable to coordinate a plurality of subnets, each subnet comprising a subnet server operable to communicate to each node of a plurality of nodes a frequency bandwidth based on a signal quality and a cost per unit of frequency bandwidth of the respective node. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving from the server a second frequency bandwidth comprises:
 receiving from the server a second frequency bandwidth that is a member of a frequency bandwidth set comprising a plurality of frequency bandwidths, each frequency bandwidth calculated by the server for a different respective node of the plurality of nodes, the frequency bandwidth set approaching a Nash equilibrium. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more network tuning constants are supplied by the server or a central server that coordinates a plurality of subnet servers of a network. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 randomly selecting a plurality of frequency subcarriers for the second frequency bandwidth. 
 
     
     
       5. An apparatus comprising:
 an interface configured to:
 communicate wirelessly with at least one endpoint via a first frequency bandwidth; 
 receive a measurement of a signal quality from the at least one endpoint; 
 
 communicate an indication of the signal quality to a server of a plurality of nodes; 
 receive from the server a second frequency bandwidth based on the signal quality, one or more network tuning constants, and a cost per unit of frequency bandwidth, the second frequency bandwidth indicating an amount of frequency bandwidth to use in communicating wirelessly with the at least one endpoint; and
 communicate wirelessly with the at least one endpoint via the second frequency bandwidth, 
 wherein the interface configured to communicate an indication of the signal quality is further configured to: 
 communicate the indication of the signal quality to a subnet server coupled to a central server, the central server operable to coordinate a plurality of subnets, each subnet comprising a subnet server operable to communicate to each node of a plurality of nodes a frequency bandwidth based on a signal quality and a cost per unit of frequency bandwidth of the respective node. 
 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the interface configured to receive from the server a second frequency bandwidth is further configured to:
 receive from the server a second frequency bandwidth that is a member of a frequency bandwidth set comprising a plurality of frequency bandwidths, each frequency bandwidth calculated by the server for a different respective node of the plurality of nodes, the frequency bandwidth set approaching a Nash equilibrium. 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more network tuning are supplied by the server or a central server that coordinates a plurality of subnet servers of a network. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a processor coupled to the interface and configured to:
 randomly select a plurality of frequency subcarriers for the second frequency bandwidth. 
 
     
     
       9. Logic embodied in non-transitory computer-readable storage media that when executed by a processor is configured to:
 communicate wirelessly with at least one endpoint via a first frequency bandwidth; 
 receive a measurement of a signal quality from the at least one endpoint; 
 
       communicate an indication of the signal quality to a server of a plurality of nodes;
 receive from the server a second frequency bandwidth based on the signal quality, one or more network tuning constants, and a cost per unit of frequency bandwidth, the second frequency bandwidth indicating an amount of frequency bandwidth to use in communicating wirelessly with the at least one endpoint; and 
 communicate wirelessly with the at least one endpoint via the second frequency bandwidth, 
 wherein communicating an indication of the signal quality to a server comprises communicating the indication of the signal quality to a subnet server coupled to a central server, the central server operable to coordinate a plurality of subnets, each subnet comprising a subnet server operable to communicate to each node of a plurality of nodes a frequency bandwidth based on a signal quality and a cost per unit of frequency bandwidth of the respective node. 
 
     
     
       10. A method, comprising:
 receiving an indication of a signal quality of at least one wireless communication between at least one node and at least one endpoint, the at least one wireless communication via a first frequency bandwidth; 
 determining a second frequency bandwidth based on the indication of the signal quality, one or more network tuning constants, and a cost per unit of frequency bandwidth, the second frequency bandwidth indicating an amount of frequency bandwidth for the at least one node to use in communicating wirelessly with the at least one endpoint; and 
 communicating an indication of the second frequency bandwidth to the at least one node for use during wireless communication with the at least one endpoint, 
 further comprising: 
 sending one or more indications of one or more signal qualities to a central server coupled to a plurality of subnet servers; and 
 receiving the one or more network tuning constants from the central server, at least one of the network tuning constants based on at least one of the one or more signal qualities. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 determining a frequency bandwidth set comprising a frequency bandwidth for each node of a plurality of nodes, wherein the frequency bandwidth set approaches a Nash equilibrium. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 receiving at least one additional indication of at least one additional signal quality of at least one wireless communication between at least one additional node and at least one additional endpoint, the at least one additional wireless communication via an additional frequency bandwidth; and 
 determining the one or more network tuning constants based on the indication of the signal quality and the at least one additional indication of the at least one additional signal quality. 
 
     
     
       13. An apparatus comprising:
 an interface configured to receive an indication of a signal quality of at least one wireless communication between at least one node and at least one endpoint, the at least one wireless communication via a first frequency bandwidth; and 
 a processor coupled to the interface and configured to determine a second frequency bandwidth based on the indication of the signal quality, one or more network tuning constants, and a cost per unit of frequency bandwidth, the second frequency bandwidth indicating an amount of frequency bandwidth for the at least one node to use in communicating wirelessly with the at least one endpoint; and 
 wherein the interface is further configured to communicate an indication of the second frequency bandwidth to the at least one node for use during wireless communication with the at least one endpoint, 
 wherein communicating an indication of the signal quality to a server comprises communicating the indication of the signal quality to a subnet server coupled to a central server, the central server operable to coordinate a plurality of subnets, each subnet comprising a subnet server operable to communicate to each node of a plurality of nodes a frequency bandwidth based on a signal quality and a cost per unit of frequency bandwidth of the respective node. 
 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine a frequency bandwidth set comprising a frequency bandwidth for each node of a plurality of nodes, wherein the frequency bandwidth set approaches a Nash equilibrium. 
 
     
     
       15. Logic embodied in non-transitory computer-readable storage media that when executed by a processor is operable to:
 receive an indication of a signal quality of at least one wireless communication between at least one node and at least one endpoint, the at least one wireless communication via a first frequency bandwidth; 
 determine a second frequency bandwidth based on the indication of the signal quality, one or more network tuning constants, and a cost per unit of frequency bandwidth, the second frequency bandwidth indicating an amount of frequency bandwidth for the at least one node to use in communicating wirelessly with the at least one endpoint; and 
 communicate an indication of the second frequency bandwidth to the at least one node for use during wireless communication with the at least one endpoint, 
 wherein communicating an indication of the signal quality to a server comprises communicating the indication of the signal quality to a subnet server coupled to a central server, the central server operable to coordinate a plurality of subnets, each subnet comprising a subnet server operable to communicate to each node of a plurality of nodes a frequency bandwidth based on a signal quality and a cost per unit of frequency bandwidth of the respective node.